Connection for universal joints or couplings



June 9, 1931 E. E. CULBERTSON 1,809,404

counmcwlou FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS on COUPLINGS Fil d April 1 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1931.

E. E. CULBERTSON commcuon FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS 0R cdurrjmes H Filed April 10, 1926 Z SheetS-Sheef; 2

1 N V EN TOR.

Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES E. ESTAY :GUIIBERTSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SPICER MANUFACTUR- I ING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA CONNEOTION FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS OR COUPLINGS Application filed April 10,

The invention relates to universal joints or couplings, particularly those used in the transmission of power in automobiles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved method for securing the hub of a coupling or joint to a power transmitting shaft whereby the flanges and screws which are employed conventionally at present for this purpose will be eliminated. The advantages created by this elimination 7 through the invention are:

#1. Transmission of the entire torque load from the shaft to the joint proper, or'vice versa, direct instead of through screws.

Shortening of the distance from the bearingwhioh supports the hub end of the power shaft to the center of the joint or coupling, which distance is commonly termed overhang resulting in: y

#3. A subsequent reduction in'the load caused by whipping carried on this bearing,

permitting the employment of a smaller hearing or indefinitely prolonging the life of the same bearing. 7 I

#41. Avery pronounced reduction in the time required by the consumer toassemble the joint to its respective shaft; this operati'on through the invention, being accomplished with much greaterrapidityand case so than present methods permit, resulting in a very marked reduction in its cost by the elimination of the screws andtheir locking means used at resent. p I g j I #5. aking possible an increasein the angle of operation within a shorter overhang than is possible with the flanges.-

#6. A keen reduction in the unit manufacturing cost resulting in a lower unit price to the consumer.

#7. A simplifying of manufacturing processes eliminating certain tools with their subsequent upkeep costs.

.# 8. Provides its own means for disengagemerit with the shaft through the expelling power of its opposed threads making the use of pullers, which are needed at present, unnecessary.

Reference to lows: h

Fig. I is a sectional longitudinal view the drawings is made as fol- 1926. Serial No. 101,147.

through the center of a plain universal joint hub mounted upon a power shaft showing in section, also, the method of its connection thereto.

Fig. II is a sideview of a hexagonally flanged connecting member for securing the joint hub to the shaft in parallel and telescopic relationship. r Fig. III is an end sectional view taken on line AA in Fig. I showing a method for rotatably securing the hub to the shaft and also a method for rotatably securing the connecting member to the hub.

Fig. IV is a sectional longitudinal view through the center of a hub employed in the construction where a propeller shaft brake is used.

Fig. V is a cross sectional view of the nut used for securing the shaft bearing against a retaining shoulder on the shaft and also fa cilitating engagement with the connecting member. v v s Fig. VI is a plan view of the nut in Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a plan view of the lock used for rotatablysecuring the nut to the shaft;

' Fig. VIII is an end view of Fig. VII.

In Fig. I a. portion of the end-of a transmission is shown by the broken lines embracing a bearing used for supporting the end of the shaft and a method currently employed for retaining the lubricant within the case. 1 is a power shaft upon the end of which is a seat 2 for receiving the hub 3 of a universal joint 4; the hub 3' being made with a hole 5 corresponding in shape to the seat portion 2 of the shaft. The seat 2 is provided with means for rotatably securing the hub thereto as by a key 6 which fits into a slot 7 Adjacent to the seat portion 2 of the shaft 1 is a threaded portion 8 with threads of'right hand direction of lead for receiving a round nut 9 which secures the bearing 10 against a shoulder 11 of the shaft.

This nut is also provided with threads 12 of right hand lead on its outer periphery and carrying a slot or series of slots 13 on its one side to facilitate the admission of a wrench. On this same side is a counterbored portion 14 having at its bottom a groove 15 for receivinga lock 16. The lock 16 is made of a resilient metal so that when assembled it is always under compression, thereby automatically retaining itself within the groove or making compression necessary for its release. This lock embraces a ring segment 17 having an inwardly extending tongue 18 which protrudes into the slot? within the shaft 1 and also an outwardly extending tongue 19 which fits into one of the slots 13 in the side of the nut.

In the art as disclosed on the drawings, which may differ in the details of its construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the hub 3 of the coupling 4 is threaded on its outer end with "threads 20 of left hand lead, or opposite in direction of lead to those on the outer periphery of-the nut 9. A connecting member 21 having internal threads of right hand lead 22 in one end and internal threads of left hand lead '23 in the opposite end is used for permanent- -members 9 and 3 are pul-l edtogethe'r or until the hub 3 is drawn tightly against its seat,

after whichthemember 211 locked to the hub 3 by the lock wire 25. This connecting member 21 is also provided with a groove 24 in its outer periphery for receiving a dock wirej25 forlocking it to the hub 3 by'means of a hooked end26. This lock wire is 'then held in place through its initial diameter being smaller than thatof the 'groove'and,

being made also of a resilient metal, holds itselftightlyin thegr'oove. This lock'ope'rates oppositely from the lock 16,,bei1ig-of thecontraeting typewhile the lock 16 is of the expanding type. A means is provided forad'ustment in locking by a series Of-h'oles iled through the -wall 28 of the memdegrees before the hook 26 of the lock wire 25 is'able to enter one of the slots 29- in -the end of the hub 3, thereby rotatably locking the members 3 and 21 together. i V

In Fig. 4 a portionof a housing is also shown with a slightdifference in "thedesign of 'its-details. This also shows the method employed when a propeller shaft brake is ,used and difi'ers from Fig. 1, excepting in foreign details, in theshape'of the'connect- 'ilagmember 2l and the design of-the hub 3 which {provides a flange for -mounti'ng the brake drum. -In thiscase the-member 2l is made from round stock to faoili'ttte the grinding of its outer diameter on centerless grinders in order to provide a smooth surface more economically for the wiper 30. This member is preferably provided with means, not shown, for permitting the employment of a Wrench to eiiect turning and otherwise identical to that described in The method disclosed provides a decidedly 'simplejy'et very' positive way'forsecuring the hub to the s'hatlt. It is particularly easy and inexpensive to assemble to other Chassis units and results in a minimum distance from the bearing to the center of the joint, which results in a decreased load on the bearing due to the resultant decrease in whi-pgping. The entire torque load is delivered directly to the huband the elimination of screws and flanges ordinarily necessary is accomplished.

V I have shownand desoribed only one manner for effecting this union or securement, and am duly consciousof the factthat other ways maybe employedin accomplishing *the same end ithout departing from the area or spirit of the invention, and therefore do not wish to be confined strietlyito the details'as herein set forth, but to the intent as'ex'pressed in the claims as follows:

l. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a shaft having a seat, of a ring threaded onsaid shalt'adjacent said seat, and being externally threaded, means for looking said ring to said shaft, a hub mounted on said shaft and having threads, of opp'osite direction of-lead to those on-said ring, on-its periphery, a {coupling member having right and left hand internal threads adjacent its ends for engagement with the threads on'said ring and hub, and means for locking said coupling member inoperative position. i

v 2. 111a device ofthe character described, the combination \vitlra shafthaving a seat provided with a groove, of a ring threaded on said shaft adjacent said seat and :being counter-bored adjacent one end and having an internalannular recess at the base of said counter-bore provided With intersecting-slots extending diametrically across 1 said counterbored;e11d,and means for locking said ring to said shaft-including ail-expanding ring segment seated in said recess; and havingoutavardlyand inwardlyf extending tongues, the said outwardly extending tongue -fitting-;into

one of said slots-antl-theEinvvardlyextending tongue *engagmgthe groove ln said seat.

3. In a device of thecharacter described,

the combination of a shafthavin-ga seat1provided with-a-groove, a hub member mounted upon said seat, said hub :member having agrooveadapted to -be aligned with: theggroove in said seat, a key engageable in said; moves {for keying said hub member to-zsai shaft, and coupling means for drawing said hub inembenonsaid seat, said means including a ring threaded on said shaft adjacent said seat, said ring having an internal annular recess, and an expanding ring segment seated in said recess and having a portion extending into the groove in said shaft for locking said ring to said shaft. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. E. ESTAY CULBERTSON. 

